HC raps Chennai Development Authority, issues contempt notice

The Madras High Court today issued contempt notice to the Member Secretary, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, asking why action should not be taken against the body for disobeying its July 18 order over holding meetings and framing rules on issues related to 'regularisaton' of buildings.
"We regret to note that practically no part of our direction in our order dated July 18, 2016 has been complied with," the court said.
The matter relates to the Public Interest Litigation petitions to call for the emergency meeting of the Monitoring Committee and ensure its periodical meetings.
The petitions also relate to implementing the Committee's decision with regard to regularise unauthorised buildings.

The petitioners had challenged the practise of allowing unfettered violations of building rules by announcing "regularisation" schemes.
Observing that the last meeting of the CMDA monitoring committee was held on July 8, the court said no meeting was held thereafter, despite its direction to have a monthly meeting.

It referred to its last month order, wherein it had found fault with the authorities for not framing guidelines and rules under Section 113-C of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 and making it clear that the deviators cannot have any remedy till the guidelines and rules were framed.
Further, the court said "this prima facie appears to be a deliberate attempt to scuttle our order and no court can countenance the same. On the one hand, no decision has been taken in policy matter (framing rules) and on the other hand, the meetings are also not being called nor directions of this court being followed."

The court issued contempt notice to the Member Secretary, CMDA, and also directed him to be present personally before it and posted the matter for further hearing to November 16.